Boat propulsion mechanism



April 9, 1968 .1. R. WYNNE BOAT PROPULSIQN MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May l1, 1960 RE .w ww m QN 0 .M d

5 Sheets-Sheet Filed May 11, 1960 J. R. WYNNE BOAT PROPULSION MECHANISM y Apri19, 196s Filed May ll, 1960 5 Shets-Sheei: 5

v INVENTOR. JAMES I?. Wy/v/vf BY APT 9, 1968 J. R. WYNNE 3,376,842

BOAT PROPULS ION MECHAI SM Filed May 11, 1960 I 5 sheets-sheet 4 i I JNVENTOR.

' JA M55 R. WY/v/VE ATTORNEY April 9, 1968 ..1. R. WYNNE BOAT PROPULSION MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filedl May ll, 1960 United States Patent O 3,376,842 BOAT PROPULSION MECHANISM James R. Wynne, Miami, Fla., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Al. Volvo Penta, Goteborg, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 745,100,

.lune 27, 1953. This application May 11, 1960, Ser.

33 Claims. (Cl. 11S-35) pulsion arrangements, improved weight distribution and a simple mechanism whereby the engine may be xedly mounted interiorly of the boat and drivingly connected to a pivotal outboard housing arranged for swinging back and forth to provide steering and further arranged for swinging upwardly and rearwardly to prevent damage to the skeg or propeller when the lower portion of the outboard housing meets an obstruction.

The invention pertains to propulsion mechanisms particulariy adapted for use with small cruisers and runabouts and provides many of the advantages of an outboard engine together with advantages of inboard engine arrangements.

According to the invention, the propulsion engine is preferably tixedly mounted to the boat transsom and has a driving shaft extending rearwardly of the transom and coupled, through universal joints, to the transmission in an outboard housing to drive a propeller carried at the lower end of the housing. The outboard housing is mounted for pivoting on two mutually perpendicular pivot axes and is free to swing back and forth to steer the boat and also free to swing rearwardly and upwardly when an underwater obstruction is encountered, thereby to prevent damage to the outboard housing or the propeller.

Tilting of the outboard units is also desirable during idle periods to maintain the propeller out of water and may be desirable during trailering of the boat.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a driving mechanism coupled to the transmission in a piv- 'oted outboard housing which will freely permit such pivoting.

A further particular object of the invention is to provide in a boat a propulsion mechanism which includes an engine fixedly mounted below the upper edge of and forwardly of the transom, and having its drive shaft at or near the water level and drivingly connected through an opening in the transom with a transmission in an outboard housing in which no stuihng boxes or bearings in the transom are necessary.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristie of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially broken away and partially sectionalized side elevation of a mechanism embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view taken along line 3 3 of FIG. l;

3,376,342 Patented" Apr. 9, l 96S FIG. 4 is a partially broken away and partially sectionalized rear elevation showing portions of the outboard housing and associated elements of the mechanism, taken generally along line 4 4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a starboard elevation of a unit, mounted on a transom, partially broken away and in section, according to a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the transom mounting bracket shown attached to a fragment of the boat transom, in'accord with the embodiment of FIG, 5;

FIG. 7 is a port elevation, primarily in section of the modified unit of FIG. 5, portions being broken away;

FIG. 8 is a detail view of a portion of the forwardreverse shift mechanism shown in section taken along line 8 8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top view on an enlarged scale of the inboard end of the tiller according to the modified embodiment of FIGS. 5-8; and

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the unit of FIGS. 5-8 on a reduced scale, the boat transom being indicated in phantom.

As seen in FIG. 1, engine 1, which may be a four cycle internal combustion engine, is xedly mounted to the transom 2 of boat 3 by means of supporting rods 4 and 5, each rod extending through the transom and carrying a nut, aft of the transom, such as nut 6. Nut 6 bears against a flat plate portion 7 of bracket 8, tixing the plate portion '7 at and rigidly against the after surface 9 of the transom. Bracket 8 is connected by means of pivots having a common horizontal axis, as later described, to a support member or frame of which a small portion 10 is shown in FIG. 1. Portion 10 forms a hinge with pivot pin 11 and supports outboard housing 13 through bearing projection portions 14 and 15 of the housing. The housing 13 is hollow and contains in its upper portion 17 a transmission 18 arranged to be controlled by means of a exible cable 19 which extends into the housing from some convenient control station. The transmission preferably comprises bevel gears 20 and 21 each of which is enmeshed with a driving gear 22 and either of which may, selectively, be engaged or disengaged from the vertical transmission shaft 23 by means of suitable selective clutching or keying mechanism 24 controlled by the cable 19. The shaft 23 extends downwardly into lower portion 25 of the outboard housing 13 and terminates in a bevel gear 26 meshing with a gear 27 on propeller shaft 28 which extends rearwardly from the housing. A suitable propeller 29 is mounted on shaft 28 Suitable bearings, supported by bearing supports, such as bearing 30 carried by support 31 are provided to mount shaft 23 in the outboard housing, and a suitable stuffing box is provided at 33 for shaft 28 in a well known manner.

Power is transmitted lfrom engine 1 through its drive shaft 25 to driving gear 22 of transmission 18 through a pair of universal joints 36 and 37. Joint 36 comprises a yoke 38 xedly mounted to shaft 35 aft of transom 2, a spider 39 pivotally connected with yoke 38 and a yoke 40 pivotally connected to the spider. Yoke 40 carries a splined shaft 41 which drivingly telescopes into a hollow shaft or socket portion 42 of yoke 43 of universal joint 37. Yoke 44 of joint 37, in turn, is fixed to `transmission driving shaft 45 which, in turn, is fixed to bevel gear 22. Tile joints 36 and 37 are so disposed that the normally generally vertical pivot axis of the hinge, comprising portions 10, 14 and 15 and pin 11, passes Ibetween the joints and preferably passes centrally through shaft 41 or socket 42. In other words, pin 11 is preferably aligned vertically below the pair of telescoping shaft elements 41 and 42 and with its axis passing preferably approximately half way between the joints 36 and 37.

Engine drive shaft 35 is shown as passing freely through an opening 46 in transom 2. A metal collar device 47 is arranged externally of the transom in a position to surround opening 46 and providing a hollow cylindrical sleeve 4S extending outwardly from the transom and surrounding shaft 35. A similar hollow cylindrical sleeve 50 extends forwardly from the upper end portion of the outboard housing, the sleeve generally surrounding shaft 45, and a watertight, fiexible, extensible, hollow cylindrical open-ended boot or sleeve 51 fits over and is fixed at its opposite ends to the sleeves 48 and 50, by means of clamps, such as clamp 52. The boot 51 may comprise a length of corrugated rubber hose as indicated in the drawing. It should have a sufficient internal diameter to avoid wearing contact ywith portions of the universal joints, it should be suiciently extensible and flexible to accommodate steering movement of the housing about the axis of pin 11, as well as upward swinging in the direction of arrow 55 upon encountering an obstruction, it should be of watertight material and construction and should be sealed to the sleeves 4S and 50 against entry of water. If of rubber, it is desirable that a form of oil and grease resistant rubber be employed to prevent deterioration from lubricants employed on the universal joints or otherwise coming in contact with the boot.

Bracket 8 comprises a pair of perforated arcuate arms, including arm 56, which support a pin 57 against which housing 13 bears and which may be adjusted into one or another of openings 58 to select the desired normal operating position for housing 13.

Plate portion 7 of bracket 8 is seen in FIG. 2 to be secured against transom 2. This bracket includes arcuate arms 56 and 59 supporting pin 57, and rearwardly projecting posts, arms or lugs 60 and 61 carrying pivot pins 62 and 63. Pins 62 and 63 have a common horizontal axis which comprises the pivot axis for the support member or frame 64. The axis of pins 62 and 63 preferably passes through the center or axis of spline-d shaft 41 and may, appropriately, intersect the axis of steering pivot pin 11 at the center of shaft 41. Boot 51 is seen to surround joint 36 and to fit snugly on sleeve portion 48 of collar device 47.

The sectional plan view of FIG. 3 shows tilt pins 62 and 63 hinge-dly connecting frame 64 to posts 60 and 61 of bracket 8, and it will be seen that the horizontal pivot or hinge axis of pins 62, 63 passes between joints 36 and 37. Steering is accomplished by means of a line 65 passing around and fixed as at 66 to a quadrant 67 attached to housing 13. The line extends forwardly from the quadrant about suitable guide pulleys 68, 69 mounted to the transom 2 and having a common axis of rotation preferably coincident with the axis of pins 62 and 63. The universal joints and the pair of telescoping shaft elemets 41, 42 which connect between the joints provide freedom of swinging movement, such as into the broken line position 69, of housing 13.

The rear elevation of FIG. 4 discloses an offsetting of the propeller shaft 28 laterally from the vertical plane through the centerline of the boat represented by broken line 70. If the propeller is rotating in the direction of arrow 71, a force is produced by the blades passing under the shaft which is greater than that produced as they pass over the shaft and which tends to move the shaft laterally toward the left as seen in FIG. 4. This movement of the shaft 28 would result in the housing swinging toward the broken line position 69 of FIG. 3. The tendency for the propeller to swing Athe housing to the left is compensated by offsetting the lower portion 25 of housing 13 to the right as seen in FIG. 4 so as to dispose the propeller shaft out of thecenterline plane 70. The steering pin 11, it will be understood, is located in plane 70, and the forward thrust of the propeller thus provides a force couple tending to -rotate the housing about pin 11 in the direction opposite to the direction in which rotational tendency is imparted by the lateral propeller force. Steering is, accordingly, substantially compensated by offsetting the lower portion of the housing and the propeller shaft in the manner shown. The housing provides suficient internal clearance to permit the upper and lower portions 17 and 25 to be vertical, yet with the lower portion 25 offset as shown.

It will be understood that the description given in connection with each figure is equally applicable to the similarly identified portions of each other figure.

In installing the mechanism on a boat, care is exercised to insure that the axis of pins 62 and 63 passes between joints 36 and 37, and, preferably, the axis passes, as nearly as may be practicable, through the center axis of the pair of telescoping shaft elements 41 and 42, and midway between the universal joints. Preferably, shafts 35, 41, 42 and 45 should be as nearly aligned as possible when the housing 13 is in the normal upright straight propelling position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. The arrangement shown and described herein provides flexibility in the mounting of the engine and outboard housing, however, and does not require precise alignment of the pins and shafts. The drive provides greater freedom of turning and tilting of the outboard housing, less wear and friction, and permits of a smaller diameter boot 51 and less maximum telescoping movement of shaft elements 41, 42 if the alignment of the pins is such that their axes pass between the universal joints and through or near the center of shaft elements 41, 42, and if the shaft alignment is such that shaft elements 35, 41, 42 and 45 are approximately aligned for straight normal propulsion.

The operation of the device is believed clear from the above description. The mechanism shown has advantages of an inboard engine in that the weight of the engine is maintained low in the boat, and forward of the transom, and the engine itself is in a convenient and accessible but readily concealed position. The outboard housing is readily mounted to the transom and provides the highly desirable features of tilting up out of the way upon meeting an obstruction and of comprising a steerable propeller. The outboard housing is simple to remove, when desired, hy loosening either one of the ends of the boot from its metal sleeve and by removing either pin 11 or pins 62 and 63. The shaft elements 41, 42 simply slide apart as the housing is moved away. The boot 51 is readily replaced by removing the housing 13 in this manner.

A modified construction in accord with the invention is disclosed in FIGS. 5 through 9. As shown therein, the engine 101 is fixedly mounted to the transom 102 of the boat by means of separable flange members 103 and 104 which are drawn together by bolts, such as bolt 180 (FIG. 7), on rubber sealing rings 106, 107, and with these rings interposed, on annular ring portion 108 of bracket 109. Bracket or collar member 109 includes a at plate portion 110 engaged against the rear face 111 of the transom, with a sealing gasket 112 preferably interposed, and as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bracket plate portion surrounds an opening 113 which extends through the transom. Bolts 114 connect the bracket to the transom.

Bracket 109 includes an upper portion 115 having an opening 116 therethrough which aligns with a second transom opening 117, and these two aligned openings 116, 117 accommodate a telescoping tiller 11S universally mounted at the transom by means of a ball 119 engaged in a socket formed of socket element 120, shown in FIG. 7, bolted `by bolts, such as bolt 121, to the bracket, and socket element 122 'bolted by bolts including bolt 123 to element 120.

Bracket 199, as further shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, also includes a pair of rearwardly extending ear or arm portions 124, 125 each having a transverse bore, such as bore 126, in which a respective pivot pin, such as pin 127, is engaged. Bore 126 is arranged to be closeable sufficiently to clamp the pivot pin therein, set screw 128 and slot 129 being provided for this purpose. Ear portion 125 with its bore 130 is similarly arranged.

Support member 131, shown in FIG. 5, is in the form of a yoke comprising two upward arms 132 and 133 pivoted on the horizontal axis pivots of bracket 109 established by pin 127 and by a corresponding pin, not shown, engaged in Ibore 130. The arms of the yoke are preferably disposed between and inwardly adjacent the respective ear portions 124 and 125 of the bracket. The yoke member 131 further includes a generally upright portion 134 extending downwardly from the arms establishing an upright pivot .axis on which outboard housing 135 swings for steering. The outboard housing and support member 131 pivot or tilt about the horizontal pivot pin 127 in a direction to swing the lower end portion 136 of the housing rearwardly and upwardly when the lower end portion meets an obstruction during forward movement of the boat, or when the housing is to be manually tilted.

Metal sleeve 137 extends rearwardly from a connection with plate portion 110, the connection being established through flange members 103, 104, rings 106, 107 and annular ring portion 108. The sleeve 137 is thus sealed to and supported by the transom through the plate portion 110 and has an open rearward or outer end portion 137'. Rubber rings 106, 107 serve as shock absorbers to reduce transmission of vibration from flange members 103, 104 to the transom. In the present embodiment, engine 101 is supportedly conected through flange members 103, 104 to plate portion 110 and thus to the transom. Further support for the engine is afforded by a post or heavy rod 138 integral with plate portion 110 extending inwardly from the plate portion through the transom and provided at its inner end with a shock absorbing rubber knob 138 against which the engine engages generally below the mounting 103, 104, 108.

Flexible corrugated rubber tubular boot 139 is engaged on the rearward end 137 of sleeve 137 and on forwardly extending sleeve 140 which is integral with housing 135. Removable clamping rings 141 and 142 may be provided to secure the lboot on the respective sleeves.

A flexible cable 143 comprising a tube 144 and wire core 145 is sealed through the transom by a rubber grom- Imet 146 and terminates aft at a control lever assembly 147 on the housing 135. The tube 144 is fixed to housing 135 by a bracket 148, which core 145 terminates in a rod 149 attached to freely pivotally supported lever 150. A shaft 151 projects from the housing 135 and carries a lever 152 which is linked, by link 153, to lever 150. A shift mechanism in the housing is operated by shaft 151. Upon pulling core 145 forwardly, lever 150 swings upwardly on its pivot 154 swinging tab 155 into its engageable position (shown in broken lines at 156) with respect to arm 157 of catch 158, thereby retaining notch 159 engaged on a pin 160. Upward swinging of lever upon retraction of rod 149 causes lever 152 to swing upwardly into the position represented by broken lines at 152 thereby to cause shifting of internal gears into reverse. Sliding of core 145 in a direction to eject core rod 149 from the tube swings levers 150 and 152 into their full line positions corresponding to neutral, or into their forward positions shown in broken lines at 161 and 162. In neutral and forward positions, tab is displaced from arm 157, whereby the catch 158 may rotate about its mounting pivot 163 against the tension of spring 164 and free itself from pin 160. Pin 160 is mounted in one or another of openings 165, permitting adjustment of the relative angles between the transom and the axis of portion 134 of the yoke. Openings 165 are arranged in rearwardly extending arm portions 166 and 167 of the mounting bracket 109. Tilting of the outboard unit on pivot 127 may occur upon meeting an obstruction with suflicient force to cause arm 153 to ride up cover pin 160. It will be noted that notch 159 is so shaped as to provide a cam action to ra-ise catch 158 when the housing is urged away from the transom. The housing may be manually tilted by releasing catch 158 with the fingers and grasping handle 168 which is attached to the housing. Upon tilting, cable 143 bends and tiller 18 telescopes as hereinafter described. Steering is accomplished by means including steering cables, such as cable 169, engaged on suitable directing blocks, such as block 170, to a desired position for a steering wheel or the like (not shown).

Further details of the construction are seen in FIG. 7. Engine flywheel 171 is connected drivingly to a shaft 172 by means of torsion damper 173 and the splines 174 of the shaft. Bearing 175 supports the shaft at the rearward end 176 of the engine iiywheel housing 177, a suitable oil seal 178 being provided adjacent the bearing. Sleeve 137 conveniently constitutes an integral portion of housing 177, while annular flange portion 179 extends inwardly of the sleeve to support the bearing 175 and, with seal 178, to close the forward or inner end of the sleeve. Connection of the sleeve to the bracket 109 is by means of annular flanges 103, 104 which are seen to be bolted together by means of bolts including bolt 180. An oil filler plug 181 and passageway 182 are conveniently provided in housing 177 opening into sleeve 137 rearwardly or outwardly of flange 179.

The rearward end portion 183 of driving shaft 172, which is driven by the engine 101 and which is surrounded by collar member 109, is provided with elongated splines 184 which slideably engage in element 185 of a exible drive connection means in the form of a double universal joint assembly 186. Joint element 185 may slide along shaft 172 while being continuously in driven engagement on the splines. In the specific double universal joint assembly 186 as shown, element 185 is arranged to drive, through ball coupling 187, a hollow shaft 188 which, in turn, is arranged to drive an output element 189 of the double joint assembly through a second coupling 190. The shaft 188 is seen to be arranged outwardly around other elements of the joint, the elements 185 and 189 being rockable within the shaft 188 while continuously coupled thereto for rotation therewith. Shaft 188, accordingly, serves as a coupling shaft between the two universal joints embodied in the assembly 186, the individual joint being made up, respectively, of element 185 universally coupled to shaft 188 through coupling 187 and of element 189 universally coupled to shaft 188 through coupling 190. Bolts, such as bolt 191, provide for assembly and disassembly of the double joint assembly.

Output element 189 is splinedly connected to driven shaft 192 which extends rearwardly from the universal joint assembly into the housing 135, being supported therein by a pair of ball bearings 193 and 194 and terminating rearwardly in a bevel gear 195 comprising a part of transmission 196. Bevel gears 197 and 198 are arranged freely rotatably on vertical shaft 199 and both gears 197 and 198 are in constant mesh with gear 195, gear 197 above gear 195 being used for driving in reverse, while gear 198 being for forward drive. Shaft 199 between bevel gears 197 and 198 carries splines 200 therealong, and a dog clutch element 201 is engaged on the splines movably therealong from a neutral position, shown in FIG. 7, to an upper position in driven contact with dog elements 202 integral with gear 197 or to a lower position in driven contact with dog elements 203 integral with gear 198. Shifting of the dog clutch for forward, reverse and neutral drive is accomplished by lever 152 and shaft 151 previously described in connection with FIG. 5 and shown in further detail in FIG. 8. Lever 152 is seen to be attached to shaft 151, the shaft extending into housing 135 and carrying inside the housing a roller cam 204 which engages with the movable dog clutch element anges 205 and 206. With swinging of lever 152 and cam 204, the one or the other of gears 197, 198 through its dogs engages and rotates the dog element 201 and with it the splined shaft 199. A spring loaded detent mechanism 207 is preferably associated with the shift means, including lever 152 and cam 204, yieldably to retain the dog clutch element in neutral, forward or reverse positions until intentionally forced into another position by means of cable 143.

Referring again to FIG. 7, shaft 199 is connected through a separable spline coupling 20S to shaft member 209 and forms therewith a continuous upright propelletdriving shaft connection between the transmission 196 and suitable bevel gear (not shown) disposed in the lower end 136 of the housing forwardly of the propeller 251 and arranged to rotate the propeller in accord with rotation of the shaft 199, 209. The provision of splined coupling 208 facilitates assembly and disassembly of the outboard unit, the lower housing portion 136 in which shaft member 209 is mounted being preferably a removable part of the housing as shown in the drawings. A grease fitting 210 is provided for greasing the propeller drive gears.

It will be seen in FIG. 7 that a sump chamber 211 is formed in the lower end portion 136 of the housing extending below cavitation plate 212 and, accordingly, below normal water level. Lubricating oil is contained in sump chamber 211 and is cooled therein by water contacting the housing. A conduit 213 extends downwardly into the chamber for sucking cool oil therefrom under the influence of gear pump 214, which is driven through a shaft 215 having a gear 216 at its upper end meshed with gear teeth 217 of an extended sleeve portion 218 of bevel gear 198. Since gear 198 is constantly in mesh with gear 195, the oil pump is constantly driven whenever ywheel 171 is rotating.

Oil sucked from the oil cooling container, compartment or sump 211 is pumped through passageway 219 (shown in broken lines) in pump body 220 into a small chamber 221 thereof and thence through passageway 222 into space 223 between bearings 193 and 194. Bearings 193 and 194 are mounted in a flanged insert sleeve 224 which is provided with openings at 225 and 226, of which opening 225 communicates with passageway 222, to admit oil into space 223. Opening 226 communicates between space 223 and a passageway 238 which leads to a point 227 above the upper end of shaft 199. The passageway 238 is drilled into the housing and, as shown, may take a tortuous path as dictated by the arrangement of the housing. A plug 228 is provided at one part of the passageway to seal off the passageway where it is necessary to drill in from a point outside of the housing.

From the point 227, the oil Hows down through bearing 229, by means of which gear 197 is mounted in the housing, into the transmission to lubricate the gears, dog clutch and bearings thereof, including the bearing 23() which mounts gear 198 and bearing 195 for shaft 192. From the transmission, a portion of the oil returns to the sump through openings 231 provided in the lower wall 232 of the transmission housing compartment or chamber 233.

Shaft 192 connecting the universal joint output element 189 to the transmission is provided with a conduit or bore shown in broken lines at 234 which opens through the ends of the shaft into the interior of the transmission chamber 233 at one end and into the interior 235 of the double universal joint at the other. A lateral opening 234 enters the shaft 192 at space 223 and intersects bore 234, whereby oil is supplied from space 223 into the bore and thence into the universal joint interior 235 and into the transmission housing. The oil supplied into the universal joint interior passes outwardly through the couplings or individual universal joint portions 187 and 190 of the assembly 186, provides lubrication for the joints and for shaft bearings 175 and 193, and then returns for cooling to the sump 211 through an opening or conduit 236. Bellows or boot 139 forms with sleeve 137 and flange 179 a closed chamber 139 and which holds or retains the oil introduced thereinto through bore 234 after it has flowed out of the joint assembly for return to the sump through passageway or opening 236, and, of course, the boot protects the joints from water, being sealed to the sleeve portion 137 of the mounting bracket and to the forwardly extending sleeve portion of the outboard housing. The oil which passes from opening 234 through bore 234 into the transmission chamber 233 adds to that entering through bearing 229 to provide more complete lubrication of the transmission, and this oil, too, returns to the sump 211 through openings 231.

A dip stick 237 enters the housing 135 to measure the oil level in the sump. Oil is conveniently added to the sump when required to bring up the level through lpassageway 182, plug 181 being removable for this purpose.

Handle 168 is externally attached to the housing for use in tilting the housing, such as, into the broken line position 135', and for carrying the 4housing when detached from the boat and motor. To detach the housing, it is only necessary to detach one or the other end of boot 139, to remove the horizontal yoke supporting pins, such as pin 127 previously described, and then to slip universal joint element from shaft 183. Cable 143 and tiller 118 should be disconnected from the housing when it is to be removed from the boat.

The upright pivot mount for yoke 131 is shown in internal detail in FIG. 7. Pivot pin 239 extends through bore 240 of the upright portion 134 of yoke 131, being journalled therein in bearing inserts 241 and 242 sealed between grease seals 243 and 244. Pin 239 extends Outwardly of the yoke portion 134 and enters bore 245 of boss 246 above portion 134 and socket 247 of boss 248 below the portion 134. Bosses 246 and 248 comprise forwardly extended portions of housing 135. A removable cap 249 is bolted by bolt 250 to boss 246 to retain the pin in position in bore 245 and socket 247, though permitting its removal when desired upon removal of the cap 249.

A thrust bearing insert in the form of annular disc 252 is provided surrounding pin 239 Iand interposed between the yoke portion 134 and boss 246. The weight of the housing is carried by the yoke portion 134 which, through bearing insert 252, supports boss 246. The housing is thus free to swing about the axis of pin 239 for steering.

Steering is accomplished through the medium of tiller 118 which, as seen in FIG. 7, is telescopic to permit tilting of the housing into the broken line position 135. Rubber tilt bumper 253 is mounted on the top of the housing in position to provide cushioning contact with the bracket 109 upon tilting of the housing. lt will be seen that the outboard -housing in each modification is limited in upward extent, terminating upwardly slightly above the level of the horizontal pivot pins, and slightly above the level of the engine drive shaft and universal joints, whereby substantial tilting of the housing may occur before any contact could occur between the upper end of the housing and the outer face of the transom, or, in the embodiment of FIGS. 5-9, between the bumper and the transom.

The tiller comprises specifically an elongated tubular member 254 extending forwardly of the transom inwardly of the boat and `a rod member 255 extending rearwardly of the transom and terminating rearwardly in an integral ball 256 by means of which it is attached to the housing. With the tiller extended, as it is when the housing is in normal operating position, a forward end portion 257 of the telescoping rod 255 is engaged in the tubular member 254 whereby the members 254 and 255 are retained in alignment. Ball 256 is caged and freely rotatable in a socket 258 formed between an annular socket member 259 and the housing. Bolts such as bolt 260 retain member 259 in position on the housing. Rod 255 .has a reduced diameter neck portion 261 at and immediately forward of its -ball portion 256 proportioned to give appropriate freedom of universal swinging motion of the rod 255 on ball 256. Such swinging occurs, for example, when the housing is tilted between its upright full line position and its tilted broken line position 135. Upon tilting into position 135', rod 255 telescopes into tube 254 and th-e tiller swings on the center of ball 119 into the broken line position 118 as ball 119 rotates in its socket.

Pin 239 is seen in the drawings to establish an upright pivot axis about which the unit swings for steering, but the axis is inclined slightly forwardly of the vertical to facilitate steering movement of the unit by means of the tiller. The pin is typically inclined forwardly, toward its upper end, at an angle of 8 or 10 from the vertical.

As a convenience in retaining the unit in tilted position, such as while trailering or during periods at anchor aoat,

la hook indicated at 168 extending rearwardly from the transom may be engaged with handle 168.

The forward end 262 of the tiller is provided with a cable attachment cap member 263 threaded onto tube 254. Cap member 263 may be applied as a substantially airtight closure for the tube, while rod 255, which may be either solid or hollow, may have a close sliding t in the tube, whereby air may be compressed in tube 254 ahead of rod 255 as the housing tilts toward position 135 providing a cushioning or shock absorbing effect of increasing force as ball 256 approaches the transom.

As best shown in FIG. 9, the cap member 263 is preferably formed with a side slot 264 and includes a pair of ears 265 and bolt 266 by means of which the cap may be clamped tightly on the tube 154. Ring tabs 267 and 268 integral with the cap member extend from opposite sides thereof, and suitable steering cable means 169 and 269 are suitably secured to the respective rings. The cables are -arranged to swing the tiller end 262 back and forth in an arc extending laterally of the boat and, of course, on ball 119 as a center or fulcrum. With the housing in normal upright position, such swinging of the tiller swings ball 256 back and forth. Since ball 256 is displaced in a direction longitudinally 'along the tiller from the axis of pin 239, such lateral swinging of ball 256 causes the housing to swing about the -axis of pin 239. It is advantageous that the pivot ball 119 for the tiller be disposed in alignment with the axis of pin 239, since under this condition there is no telescoping movement of rod 255 with respect to tube 254 during steering.

In performing the steering function for the boat, it will be apparent, particularly with reference to FIG. l0, that the housing 135, and particularly the lower portion 136 thereof, constitutes a reaction member 270 of generally streamlined aspect which, through reaction of water thereagainst, is effective to steer the boat of which the transom is indicated in phantom at 102', corresponding to transom 102 of FIGS. 5-7. The means for swinging the tiller, including cables 169 and 269 connected to the forward end cable -attachment cap 263 of the tiller, are shown extending laterally of the boat and engaged on respective blocks 170 and 271. The cables will extend forwardly from blocks 170 and 271 in a typical installation for operation by a steering wheel (not shown) arranged in ya convenient forward position in the boat.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5-10, with the unit in normal operating position as seen in FIGS. 5, 7 and 10, the engine flywheel and shaft 172, the universal joints 187 and 190 and the coupling shaft 188, and shaft 192 are all aligned and rotate about a common horizontal, or approximately horizontal, axis. The tilt axis established by pin 127 preferably intersects the axis of the aligned shafts and joint members, or passes close thereto, and passes between the universal joints 187 and 190; The steering axis of pin 239 also passes between the universal joints and preferably intersects the tiller pivot ball 119 at about its center of curvature.

While only certain preferred embodiments of this invention have been shown and described by way of illustration, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore, desired that it be understood that it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a boat having a stern transom, an engine iixedly mounted on and disposed forwardly of said transom and having a drive shaft extending aftward through said transom, a universal joint on said shaft disposed aft of said transom, a second universal joint disposed aft of said rst joint, drive means connecting between said universal joints, an outboard housing having an upper end portion disposed aft of and generally opposite said second joint and having a lower end, a propeller carried on said lower end, a transmission in said upper end, driving means connecting said transmission to said propeller, a connection between said second joint and said transmission, mounting means for said outboard housing comprising a bracket fixed to said transom and a support member disposed between said transom and said housing, a hinge pivotally supportingly connecting said member to said bracket for swinging on a first axis, a second hinge pivotally supportingly connecting said housing to said member for swinging of said housing on a second axis, said axes being mutually perpendicular and being located so as to extend through respective points in substantial alignment with said drive shaft and between said joints.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the drive means connecting between said universal joints comprise a pair of drivingly connected telescoping shaft elements.

3. The combination according to claim 1 wherein the drive shaft is connected to the rst universal joint by an extensible spline coupling.

4. In a boat having a stern transom with an opening therethrough, an engine in said boat disposed forwardly of said transom, means mounting said engine in said boat in fixed position with respect to said transom, an outboard housing having an upper end portion disposed spacedly aft of and generally aligned with said transom opening and having a lower end, a propeller carried on said lower end, a transmission in said upper end, means in said housing operatively connecting said transmission to said propeller, two universal joints disposed forwardly of said upper end of said housing and aft of said transom, one said joint being generally aligned rearwardly of the other, said upper end portion of said housing terminating upwardly slightly above the level of said one joint, a rotatable drive element having a forward end, means drivingly connecting said forward end to said engine, said element extending rearwardly through said opening and having a rearward end, means drivingly connecting said rearward end to said other universal joint, a second rotatable drive element having a forward end, means drivingly connecting said forward end of said second element to said other universal joint, said second element extending rearwardly from said other joint and having a rearward end, means drivingly connecting said rearward end of said second element to said one universal joint, a third rotatable drive element having a forward end and a rearward end, means drivingly connecting said forward end of said third element to said one universal joint, means drivingly connecting said rearward end of said third element to said transmission, one of said drivingly connecting means comprising a coupling axially extensible along the axis of the respective said drive element, and mounting means for said outboard housing comprising a bracket fixed to said transom and a support member disposed between said transom and said-housing, a hinge pivotally supportingly connecting said member to said bracket for swinging on a first axis, a second hinge pivotally supportingly connecting said housing to said member for swinging of said housing on a second axis, said axes being mutually perpendicular and being located so as to extend through respective points in substantial alignment with said first drive element and between said joints.

5. ln a boat having a stern transom with an upper edge and a lower edge, an opening through said transom spaced between said upper and lower edges, au engine disposed forwardly of said transom, means fixedly mounting said engine to said transom, said engine having a generally horizontal drive shaft extending aft therefrom through said opening and having an end disposed aftward of and adjacent said opening, a first universal joint carried by said shaft at said end, a pair of splinedly connected stub shaft elements in telescoping alignment, a second universal joint, one of said elements being connected to said first joint opposite to said drive shaft and the other being connected to said second joint, a bracket mounted to said transom exteriorly thereof having a pair of pivots with a common generally horizontal axis disposed on respective opposite sides of said universal joints, a support member supported on said pivots, an outboard housing, hinge means having a generally vertical pivot axis connecting said housing to said member, said housing having an upper end portion disposed opposite and aft of said joints and a lower end portion extending downwardly below the level of said lower edge of said transom and below said horizontal pivots, a propeller rotatively carried by said lower end portion, a transmission in said upper end portion, a connecting shaft connecting said transmission to said second universal joint for driving said transmission therefrom, means in said housing connecting said propeller to said transmission, a exible, extensible, tubular housing surroundingly enclosing said joints and said pair of stub shaft elements, said extensible housing having open ends, and means sealing said extensible housing at one end to said transom completely around said opening therein and at the other end to said upper end portion of said outboard housing in watertight connection therewith.

6. ln a boat having a stern transom with an upper edge and a lower edge, an opening through said transom spaced between said upper and lower edges, an engine disposed forwardly of said transom, means mounting said engine in said boat in fixed position with respect to said transom, said engine having a generally horizontal drive shaft extending aft therefrom through said opening and having an after end disposed aftward of and adjacent said opening, a rst universal joint, a drive connection between said shaft end and said joint, a second universal joint, drive means extending between said universal joints, said drive means having opposite ends and comprising a respective drive connecten at each of its said ends with the respective said universal joint, a bracket mounted to said transom having a pair of pivots with a common generally horizontal axis disposed on respective opposite sides of said universal joints and rearwardly of said transom, a support member supporated on said pivots, an outboard housing, hinge means having a generally vertical pivot axis connecting said housing to said member, said housing hav. ing an upper end portion disposed opposite and aft of said joints and terminating upwardly slightly above the level of said horizontal pivots, said housing having a lower end portion extending downwardly below the level of said lower edge of said transom and below said horizontal pivots, a propeller rotatively carried by said lower end portion, a transmission in said upper end portion, a connecting shaft having opposite ends, a respective drive connection at each said end of said connecting shaft drivingly connecting said shaft to said second universal joint at one said end of the shaft and to said transmission at said other end of the shaft, one of said drive connections comprising interengaging splined elements and being extensible, mcans in said housing connecting said propeller to said transmission, a exible tubular housing surroundingly enclosing said joints and said drive means, said extensible housing having open ends, and means sealing watertight said extensible housing at one end to said transom completely around said opening therein and at the other end to said upper end of said outboard housing in watertight connection therewith.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said flexible housing comprises a watertight corrugated oil and water resistant synthetic rubber tube and said sealing means comprise respective releasable rings clampingly securing the ends of said tube to the transom and to the` outboard housing, respectively.

8. Transom mounted propelling means for a boat, comprising an engine having a main shaft projecting horizontally rearwardly therefrom, mounting members fixed to said engine and having rearwardly facing portions adapted and arranged to engage the forward face of the boat transom, said portions being disposed outwardly of and completely surrounding said shaft, a plate adapted and arranged to engage against the rear face of the boat transom, said plate comprising forwardly facing portions lying opposite said rearwardly facing portions, means connecting said plate to said mounting members with said plate portions spacedly confronting said portions of said members, said means including rod elements adapted to pass through the boat transom and said means being threadedly adjustable to clamp the boat transom between said plate portions and said portions of said members, said plate having a generally central opening between its said portions, said shaft extending through said opening, a first universal joint on the rearward end of said shaft, a second universal joint rearwardly of said first joint, a drive coupling interconnecting said joints, a support member disposed rearwardly of said plate and pivotally connected thereto on a horizontal axis hinge, an outboard drive housing disposed rearwardly of and pivotally connected to said support member on a generally vertical axis hinge, said housing having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, a connecting drive shaft connected through said second joint to said drive coupling and extending rearwardly from said second joint and entering said upper end portion of said housing, a propeller rotatable on said lower end portion of said housing, and drive means in said housing drivingly connecting said connecting drive shaft to said propeller.

9. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said plate has a pair of aftwardly extending arms connected thereto and an element is supported thereon in adjustable aftwardly spaced relation to said plate and in position to be engaged by a forward portion of said support member below said horizontal tilt axes thereby adjustably to limit the forward swinging of the lower end of the housing.

10. In a boat having a stern transom with an opening therethrough spacedly below the upper edge of the transom, an outboard housing spaced aft of said transom, a hollow open ended rigid sleeve member, said member being disposed substantially aligned coaxially with said opening and having a flanged forward end fixed to said transom surrounding said opening and said member extending aft from said flanged forward end and terminating rearwardly in a free open end, a first universal joint having pivot axes, said joint being disposed with its said axes aft of said free open end of said sleeve member, coupling shaft means extending rearwardly from said joint, a second universal joint disposed aft of the said first joint and connected thereto through said coupling shaft means, a connecting shaft joined to said second joint and extending aft thereof and entering said housing, said housing terminating upwardly at a level slightly above said connecting shaft and having a lower portion below said level, a propeller on said lower portion, a rigid sleeve portion extending forwardly from said housing surrounding and substantially coaxial with said connecting shaft and having a forward end located aft of the pivots of said second joint, a hollow, open ended, watertight, flexible boot enclosingly surrounding said joints and said coupling shaft means and secured in watertight relation at its respective ends to said sleeve member and to said sleeve portion of said housing, respectively, a generally vertical pivot pin and a horizontal pivot pin each located outwardly of said boot, said pins having mutually perpendicular axes intersecting at a point aligned with and rearwardly of said opening and located between said joints, a support member, means comprising one of said pins supportingly connecting said support member to said transom for pivoting with respect to the transom about the axis of said one pin, means comprising the other pin supportingly connecting said housing to said support member and pivotally supporting said housing thereon for pivoting with respect thereto about the axis of said other pin, and an inboard engine drive shaft extending aftwardly through said transom opening and through said rigid sleeve member and drivingly connected at its after end to said first universal joint.

11. An outboard propeller mechanism for a boat, said boat having a stern transom and an inboard engine forwardly thereof, said transom having an opening therethrough spacedly below the upper edge of the transom, a drive shaft connected to said engine extending rearwardly therefrom through said opening and terminating rearwardly of said transom, a first universal joint on the rearward end of said shaft, a second universal joint disposed rearwardly of said first joint, a power transmitting shaft connected between said joints, an outboard 4housing spaced rearwardly from said transom and having a lower end portion, a propeller carried by said lower end portion of said housing, a driven shaft located above said propeller and extending generally forwardly from said housing and connected to said second joint to be driven thereby, means in said housing drivingly connecting said propeller with said driven shaft, first .and second hinge pins, and means for protecting said join-ts and for mounting said housing comprising -a first hollow member fixed to said transom and having a tubular rearward end, said member surroundingly encompassing said drive shaft and including an outer portion mounting said rst hinge pin in fixed position with respect to and rearwardly of said transom, a second hollow member fixed to said housing surroundingly encompassing said driven shaft and extending forwardly from said housing generally toward said end of said first hollow member, said housing comprising a forwardly projecting portion mounting said second hinge pin in fixed position with respect to and forwardly of said housing, a rigid frame element interconnecting said hinge pins and retaining said pins with their respective axes oriented at right angles to each other and, when said housing is in normal straight ahead operating position, at substantially right angles to the axis of said power transmitting shaft, said frame element being connected to said first hollow member and to said housing, respectively, by said first and second hinge pins, and hollow exible means surroundingly encompassing said power transmitting shaft and extending between and joined to said first and second hollow members, said housing terminating upwardly slightly above the level of said driven shaft.

12. In a boat having a stern transom with an upper edge and a lower edge, an opening through said transom spaced between said upper and lower edges, an engine disposed forwardly of said transom, means mounting said engine in said boat in fixed position with respect to said transom, said engine having a generally horizontal drive shaft extending aft therefrom through said opening and having an after end disposed aftward of and adjacent said opening, a first universal joint, a drive connection between said shaft end and said joint, a second universal joint, drive means extending between said universal joints, said drive means having opposite ends and comprising a respective drive connection `at each of its said ends with the respective said universal joint, a bracket fixedly mounted to said boat having a pair of pivots with a common generally horizontal axis disposed on respective opposite sides of said universal joints and rearwardly of said transom, a yoke member having respective arms respectively supported on said pivots, an outboard housing, said yoke member comprising hinge means connected with said arms spaced from said pivots, said hinge means having a generally vertical pivot axis and pivotally connecting said housing to said member, said housing having an upper end portion disposed opposite and aft of said joints and a lower end portion extending downwardly below the level of said lower edge of said transom and below said horizontal pivots, a propeller rotatively carried by said lower end portion, a transmission in said upper end portion, a connecting shaft having opposite ends, a respective drive connection at each said end of said connecting shaft drivingly connecting sai-d connecting shaft to said second universal joint at one said end thereof and to said -transmission at the other said end thereof, one of said drive connections comprising interengaging splined elements and being extensible, means in said housing connecting said propeller to said transmission, a hollow, bendable generally tubular housing surroundingly e11- closing said joints and said drive means, said yoke member being disposed outwardly of said bendable housing, said bendable housing having open end's, and means establishing a watertight seal between said bendable housing at one end to said transom completely .around said opening therein and at the other end to said upper end of said outboard housing in watertight connection therewith.

13. In a boat having a stern transom with an opening therethrough spacedly below the upper edge of the transom, an o-utboard housing spaced aft of said transom, a hollow open ended rigid sleeve member, said member being disposed substantially aligned coaxially with said opening and having a forward end portion mounted in fixed position to said boat, said member extending aft from its said forward end portion and terminating rearwardly in a free open end, universal joint means disposed aft of said free open end of said' sleeve member, a connecting shaft joined to said joint means and extending -aft thereof and entering said housing, a rigid sleeve portion extending forwardly from said housing surrounding and substantially coaxial with said connecting shaft and having a forward end located aft of said joint means, a hollow, open ended, watertight, flexible boot enclosingly surrounding said joint means and secured in watertight relation at its respective ends to said sleeve member and to said sleeve portion of said housing, respectively, a first pivot pin and a second pivot pin each located outwardly of said boot and rearwardly of said transom, said pins having mutually perpendicular axes, .a support member, means comprising said first pin pivotally supportingly connecting said support member to said transom for pivoting with respect to the transom about the axis of said first pin, means comprising said second pin pivotally supportingly connecting said housing to said support member for pivoting of said housing with respect to said support member about the axis of said second pin, said housing terminating upwardly slightly above the level of said connecting shaft and below said upper edge of said transom, and inboard engine drive shaft means extending aftwardly through said transom opening and through said rigid sleeve member and drivingly connected at its after end to said universal joint means.

d4. In a boat having a stern transom with an opening therethrough, an outboard housing spaced aft of said transom, a hollow open ended rigid sleeve member, said member being disposed substantially aligned coaxially with said opening and having a forward end portion mounted in fixed position to said boat, said member extending aft from its said forward end portion and terminating rearwardly in a free open end, universal joint means disposed aft of said free open end of said sleeve member, a connecting shaft joined to said joint means and extending aft thereof and entering said housing, a rigid sleeve portion extending forwardly from said housing surrounding and substantially coaxial with said connecting shaft and having a forward end located aft of said joint means, a hollow, open ended, watertight, flexible boot enclosingly surrounding said joint means and sesured in watertight relation at its respective ends to said sleeve member and to said sleeve portion of said housing, respectively, pivot means disposed laterally outwardly of said boot and between said housing and said transom pivotally connecting said housing to said boat, an inboard engine drive shaft extending aftwardly through said transom opening and through said rigid sleeve member and drivingly connected at its after end to said universal joint means, an oil sump in said housing, and means in said housing to supply oil from said sump to said joint means and to return oil collecting in said boot into said sump.

1S. In a boat having a stern transom with an opening therethrough, an inboard engine drive shaft extending through said opening and terminating rearwardly of said transom, universal joint means connected to the rearward end of said shaft, an outboard housing disposed rearwardly of said joint means, a connecting shaft attached to said joint means and extending rearwardly therefrom and entering said housing, a iiexible oil-tight boot encompassing said joint means and having one and another respectively opposite ends from which one and the other of said shafts respectively extend, oil seal means connected to said one end of said boot forming with said boot a chamber adapted to hold oil, said joint means being disposed in said chamber, means for circulating oil for lubricating said joint means into and out of said chamber, and pivotal mounting means disposed between said housing and said transom pivotally supportingly connecting said housing to said boat.

16. The combination according to claim l5 wherein said pivotal mounting means are disposed laterally outwardly of said boot.

17. The combination according to claim i5 wherein said oil circulating means comprises an oil-containing compartment in said housing and an oil passageway communiating between said chamber and said oil-containing compartment.

18. In a boat having a stern transom with an opening therethrough, an inboard engine disposed in said boat, a first rigid hollow sleeve aligned with said opening surrounding said rearward shaft portion and terminating in a rearward end disposed rearwardly of said transom, said sleeve comprising outwardly projecting means engaging said transom around said opening sealing watertight said sleeve to said transom thereby to prevent ingress of water through said opening into the boat, rigid means connecting said sleeve to said engine in fixed relative locations, two aligned horizontal axis pivots connected to said sleeve in fixed position with respect thereto disposed outwardly on opposite sides thereof and rearwardly of said rearward end thereof, a yoke member having arms mounted on said respective pivots, an outboard housing disposed rearwardly of said pivots having a forwardly extending second sleeve integral therewith substantially aligned with said first sleeve when said housing is in normal operating position, said second sleeve having a forward end spaced rearwardly of said pivots and of said rearward end of said first sleeve, an engine drive shaft extending rearwardly from said engine through said first sleeve, a driven shaft extending forwardly through said `second sleeve, universal joint means located between said pivots and between said ends drivingly interconnecting -said shafts, a flexible boot disposed outwardly surrounding said joint means and inwardly between said pivots and having opposite open ends sealed to the ends of said respective sleeves and forming a chamber for said: joint means, means in one sleeve closing said chamber at one end thereof, Qil supply means including a passageway l@ entering said chamber through the other end thereof for supplying oil into said chamber for lubricating said point means, and a third pivot located outwardly of said boot and having a generally upright axis, said pivot swingably connecting said housing to said yoke member, said axis of said third pivot being directed through said joint means.

19. In a boat having a stern transom with an opening therethrough, a hollow rigid first sleeve member fixed to said boat aligned with said opening and having a rearward end exposed rearwardly of said transom, an inboard engine disposed forwardly of said sleeve member having a drive shaft extending rearwardly through said sleeve member, universal joint means connected to said drive shaft having a universal pivot axis rearwardly adjacent said rearward end of said sleeve member, a hollow rigid second sleeve member generally aligned with said first sleeve member extending rearwardly from said joint means and having a forward end spaced rearwardly of said rearward end of said first sleeve member, a driven shaft connected to said joint means for driving from said drive shaft through said joint means and extending rearwardly therefrom through said second sleeve member, a propeller and means drivingly connecting said propeller to said driven shaft, means forming a chamber enclosing said joint means for holding lubricating oil therefor and comprising a flexible boot extending between and having respective ends sealed to said ends of said sleeves, propeller supporting means rotatably mounting said propeller in fixed position with respect to said second sleeve member, means swingably connecting said secondvsleeve member and supporting means to said boat, a cooling container for lubricating oil for said joint means, said container being mounted outwardly of said chamber and fixedly with respect to one of said sleeve members, said container having a wall in contact with the oil on one side and adapted to be cooled by water contact with the other side, and oil conduit means connected to said container and communicating with said chamber through said one of said sleeve members for supplying oil cooled in said container to lubricate said joint means.

20. In a boat having a stern transom with an upper edge and a lower edge, said transom being provided with an opening therethrough spaced between said upper and lower edges, an engine disposed in said boat forwardly of said transom mounted in fixed position therein and having a drive shaft extending rearwardly therefrom alignedly with said opening, a collar member surrounding said shaft and attached to said transom around said transom opening, an upright outboard housing having an upper end portion disposed spacedly rearwardly of said transom and aligned opposite said opening, said housing having a lower end portion carrying a propeller thereon, a driven shaft having a rearward end in said upper end portion of said housing and extending forwardly from said housing in a direction alignedly toward said opening and drive shaft, said driven shaft having a forward end disposed forward of said housing and spacedly rearward of said transom and of the rearward end of said engine drive shaft, drive means in said housing connecting between said rearward end of said driven shaft and said propeller, iiexible drive means connecting between said rearward end of said drive shaft and said forward end of said driven shaft, a supporting member in the form of an upright yoke disposed between said transom and said outboard housing and comprising an upright pivot portion disposed spacedly below said flexible drive means and two spaced arm portions extending upwardly from said upright pivot portion spaced laterally outwardly of and on opposite sides of said flexible drive means and each having a horizontal pivot portion disposed outwardly of and on a respective side of said flexible drive means, pivot means fixed with respect to said collar member and disposed spacedly outwardly of said flexible drive means and of said drive shaft, said pivot means comprising respective pivotal supporting portions disposed rearwardly of said transom on respectively opposite sides of said flexible drive means establishing a common horizontal pivot axis at substantially the level of said drive shaft and pivotally supportingly connected to said respective horizontal pivot portions of said supporting member for swinging of said supporting member on said horizontal axis, said outboard housing comprising a forwardly eX- tending arm underlying said driven shaft mounting said outboard housing on said upright pivot portion for swinging of said outboard housing in directions to steer the boat.

21. In a boat having a stern transom with an upper edge and a lower edge, said transom being provided with an opening therethrough spaced between said upper and lower edges, an engine disposed in said boat forwardly of said transom mounted in fixed position therein and having a drive shaft extending rearwardly therefrom alignedly with said opening, an upright outboard housing having an upper end portion disposed spacedly rearward of said transom and aligned opposite said opening, said housing having a lower end portion carrying a propeller thereon, a driven shaft having a rearward end in said upper end portion of said housing and extending forwardly from said housing in a direction alignedly toward said opening and drive shaft, said driven shaft having a forward end disposed forward of said housing and spacedly rearward of said transom and of the rearward end of said engine drive shaft, drive means in said housing connecting between said rearward end of said driven shaft and said propeller, flexible drive means connecting between said rearward end of said drive shaft and said forward end of said driven shaft, a supporting member in the form of an upright yoke disposed between said `transom and said outboard housing and comprising an upright pivot portion disposed spacedly below said flexible drive means and two spaced arm portions extending upwardly from said upright pivot portion spaced laterally outwardly of and on opposite sides of said flexible drive means and each having a horizontal pivot portion disposed outwardly of and on a respective side of said ilexible drive means, pivot means fixed with respect to said boat and disposed spacedly outwardly of said flexible drive means and of said drive shaft, said pivot means comprising respective pivotal supporting portions disposed rearwardly of said transom on respectively opposite sides of said flexible drive means establishing a common horizontal pivot axis at substantially the level of said drive shaft and pivotally supportingly connected to said respective horizontal pivot portions of said supporting member for swinging of said supporting member on said horizontal axis, said outboard housing comprising a forwardly extending arm underlying said driven shaft mounting said outboard housing on said upright pivot portion for swinging of said outboard housing in directions to steer the boat.

22. In a boat hav-ing a stern transom with an upper edge and a lower edge, said transom being provided with an opening therethrough spaced between said upper and lower edges, an engine disposed in said boat forwardly of said transom mounted in fixed position therein and having a drive shaft extending rearwardly therefrom alignedly with said opening, a collar member surrounding said shaft, said collar member comprising seal and bearing means for said shaft and a `continuous body portion surroundingly mounting said seal and bearing means, said drive shaft terminating rearwardly of said seal and bearing means, said body portion being attached and sealed in watertight relation to said transom around said opening therethrough whereby with said shaft and seal and bearing means to close said opening, an upright outboard housing having .an upper end portion disposed spacedly rearward of said transom and aligned opposite said opening, said housing having a lower end portion carrying a propeller thereon, a `driven shaft having a rearward end in said upper end portion of said housing and extending forwardly from said housing in a direction alignedly toward said opening, said driven shaft having a forward end disposed forward of said housing and spaced rearward-ly of said transom and of the rearward end of said engine drive shaft, drive means in said housing connecting between said rearward end of said driven shaft and said propeller, flexible drive means connecting between said rearward end of said drive shaft and said forward end of said driven shaft, a supporting member in the form of an upright yoke disposed between said transom and said outboard housing and comprising an 11pright pivot portion disposed spacedly below said flexible drive means .and two spaced arm portions extending upwardly from said upright pivot portion spaced laterally outwardly of and on opposite sides of said flexible drive means and each having a horizontal pivot portion disposed outwardly of and on a respective side of said ilexible drive means, pivot means xed with respect to said collar member and disposed spacedly outwardly of said flexible drive means and of said drive shaft, said pivot means comprising respective pivotal supporting portions disposed rearwardly of said transom on respectively opposite sides of said exible drive means establishing a common horizontal pivot axis at substantially the level of said drive shaft and pivotally supportingly connected to said respective horizontal pivot portions of said supporting member for swinging of said supporting member on said horizontal axis, said outboard housing comprising a forwardly extending arm underlying said driven shaft mounting said out-board housing on said upright pivot portion for swinging of said outboard housing in directions to steer the boat.

23. In a boat having a stern transom with an upper edge and a lower edge, said transom being provided with an opening therethrough spaced between said upper and lower edges, an engine disposed in said boat forwardly of said transom mounted in xed position therein and having a drive shaft extending rearwardly therefrom alignedly with said opening, a collar member surrounding said shaft, said collar member comprising seal and bearing means for said shaft and a continuous body portion surrounding mounting said seal and bearing means, said drive shaft terminating rearwardly `of said seal and bearing means, said body portion being rattached to said engine, means sealing said body portion in watertight relation to said transom around said opening therethrough whereby with said shaft, sea-l and bearing means and body lportion to close said transom opening, an upright outboard housing having an upper end portion disposed spacedly rearward of said transom and aligned opposite said opening, said housing having a lower end portion carrying a propeller thereon, a driven shaft having a rearward end in said upper end portion of said housing and extending forwardly from said housing in a direction alignedly toward said opening, said driven shaft having a forward end disposed forward of said housing and spacedly rearward of said transom and of the rearward end of said engine drive shaft, drive means in said housing connecting between said rearward end of said driven shaft and said propeller, ilexible drive means connecting between said rearward end of said drive shaft and said forward end of said driven shaft, asupporting member in the form of an upright yoke disposed between said transom and said outboard housing and comprising an upright pivot portion disposed spacedly -below said flexible drive means and two spaced arm portions extending upwardly from said upright pivot portion spaced laterally outwardly of and on opposite sides of said flexible drive means an deach having a horizontal pivot portion disposed outwardly of and on a respective side of said ilexible drive means, pivot means xed with respect to said collar member and disposed spacedly outwardly of said flexible drive means and of said drive shaft, said pivot means comprising respective pivotal supporting portions disposed rearwardly of said transom on respectively opposite sides of said fiexible drive means establishing a comymon horizontal pivot axis at substantially the level of said drive shaft and pivotally supportingly connected to said respective horizontalpivot portions of said supporting member for swinging of said supporting member on said horizontal axis, said outboard housing comprising a forwardly extending arm underlying said driven shaft mounting said outboard housing on said upright pivot portion for swinging of said outboard housing in directions to steer the boat.

24. In a boat having a stern transom with an upper edge and a lower edge, said transom being provided with an opening therethrough spaced `between said upper and lower edges, an engine disposed in said boat forwardly of said transom mounted in fixed position therein and having a drive shaft extending rearwardly therefrom alignedly with said opening, a collar member surrounding said shaft and attached and sealed to said transom in watertight relation to said transom around said transom opening, an upright outboard housing having an upper end portion disposed spacedly rearward of said transom and aligned opposite said opening, said housing having a lower end portion carrying a propeller thereon, a driven shaft having a rearward end in said upper end portion of said housing and extending forwardly from said housing in a direction alignedly toward said opening and said driven shaft having a forward end disposed forward of said housing and spacedly rearward of said transom and of the rearward end of said engine drive shaft, drive means in said housing connecting between said rearward end of said driven shaft and said propeller, flexible drive means connecting between said rearward end of said drive shaft and said forward end of said driven shaft, a flexible, generally elongated cylindrical housing surrounding said iiexible drive means sealed at its respective opposite ends in watertight relation to said collar mem- 'ber outwardly of said drive shaft and to said upper end portion of said outboard housing outwardly around said driven shaft respectively, a supporting member in the form of an upright yoke disposed between said transom and said outboard housing and comprising an upright pivot portion disposed spacedly below said liexible housing and two spaced arm portions extending upwardly -from said upright pivot portion spaced laterally outwardly of and on opposite sides of said flexible housing and each having a horizontal pivot portion disposed outwardly of and on a respective side of said iiexible housing, Iand pivot means fixed with respect to said collar member and disposed outwardly of said flexible housing and of said drive shaft, said pivot means comprising respective pivotal supporting portions disposed rearwardly of said transom on respectively opposite sides of said ilexible housing establishing a common horizontal pivot axis at substantially the level of said drive shaft and pivotally supporting said supporting member for swinging of said supporting member on said horizontal axis, said outboard housing comprising a forwardly extending arm underlying said driven shaft mounting said outboard housing on said upright pivot portion for swinging of said outboard housing in directions to steer the boat.

25. In a boat having a stern transom with an upper edge and :a lower edge, said transom being provided with an opening therethrough spaced -between said upper and lower edges, an engine disposed in said boat forwardly of said transom mounted in fixed position therein and having a drive shaft extending rearwardly therefrom alignedly with said opening, collar means comprising a collar member surrounding said shaft and attached to said engine, means sealing said collar member in Watertight relation to said transom around said transom opening, an upright outboard housing having an upper end portion disposed spacedly rearward of said transom and aligned opposite said opening, said housing having a lower end portion carrying a propeller thereon, a driven shaft having a rearward end in said upper end portion of said housing and extending forwardly from said housing in a direction alignedly toward said opening and drive shaft, said driven shaft having a forward end disposed forward of said housing and spacedly rearward of said transom and of the rearward end of Said engine drive shaft, drive means in said housing connecting between said rearward end of said driven shaft and said propeller, flexible drive means connecting between said rearward end of said drive shaft and said forward end of said driven shaft, a liexible, generally elongated cylindrical housing surrounding said flexible drive means sealed at its respective opposite ends in watertight relation to said collar member outwardly of said drive shaft and to said upper end portion of said outboard housing outwardly around said driven shaft respectively, a supporting member in the form of an upright yoke disposed between said transom and said outboard housing and comprising an upright pivot portion disposed spacedly below said fiexible housing and two spaced arm portions extending upwardly from said upright pivot portion spaced laterally outwardly of and on opposite sides of said iiexible housing and each having a horizontal pivot portion disposed outwardly of and on a respective side of said exible housing, said collar means comprising pivot means fixed with respect to said collar member and disposed outwardly of said iiexible housing and of said drive shaft, said pivot means comprising respective pivotal supporting portions disposed rearwardly of said transom on respectively opposite sides of said exible housing establishing ya common horizontal pivot axis at substantially the level of said drive shaft and pivotally supporting said supporting member for swinging of said supporting member on said horizontal axis, said outboard housing comprising a forwardly extending arm underlying said driven shaft mounting said outboard housing on said upright pivot portion for swinging of said outboard housing in directions to steer the boat.

26. In a boat having a stern transom with an upper edge and a lower edge, an opening through said transom spaced between said upper and lower edges, an inboard engine disposed in said boat forwardly of said transom, means mounting said engine in said boat in fixed position with respect to said transom, said engine having a generally horizontal drive shaft extending aftwardly therefrom aligned with said opening, collar means comprising a collar member having an opening therethrough aligned with said transom opening and with said shaft, means fixing said collar means in rigid position with respect to said engine, said collar means comprising means sealing outwardly completely around said collar member opening in watertight sealed relation to said transom completely around said transom opening, an upright outboard housing having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, a propeller on said lower end portion, said shaft terminating in a rearward end adjacent said collar member and said upper end portion being disposed in alignment with and spacedly rearwardly of said rearward end of said shaft and spaced rearwardly of said collar member, a second shaft having a forward end spaced rearwardly of said end of said first shaft, of said collar member and of said transom, said second shaft extending rearwardly from its said forward end and entering said upper end portion of said housing, an upright driven shaft in said housing drivingly connected to said propeller at its lower end and having an upper end in said upper end portion of said housing, means in said upper end of said housing drivingly connecting between said upper end of said driven shaft and said second shaft, iiexible drive means connecting between said rearward end of said rst shaft and said forward end of said second shaft, said collar means comprising two arm portions extending rearwardly of said transom spaced respectively oppositely outwardly of said fiexible drive means, each said arm portion having a pivot portion rearward of the rearward end of said rst shaft and forward of said forward end of said second shaft, said pivot portions establishing a common pivot axis substantially perpendicular to said shafts, a yoke member comprising two arms having respective portions spaced apart and a pivot portion connected to said arms spacedly from said spaced apart portions, said spaced apart portions of said arms being pivotally supportedly connected respectively to said pivot portions of said arm portions of said collar means for pivoting of said yoke member with respect to said collar member on said common axis, the pivot axis of said pivot portion of said yoke member being substantially perpendicular to said common axis and to said shafts, rigid mounting means lixed to said outboard housing forwardly of said upright driven shaft pivotally supporting said housing on said pivot portion of said yoke member for pivoting on said pivot axis thereof, said axes being rearward of said transom, of said rearward end of said first shaft and of said collar member and being forward of said forward end of said second shaft and extending through the space aligned between said collar member opening and said upper end portion of said housing, and a flexible, generally cylindrical watertight boot surrounding said flexible drive means, said boot extending spacedly between said yoke member arms and spacedly inwardly of said yoke member pivot portion, said boot being sealed in watertight relation at its respective ends to said collar member completely around said opening therein and to said outboard housing outwardly completely around said second shaft.

27. In combination in a boat, an engine iixedly mounted on the boat, said engine haivng a power shaft, an outboard housing disposed outwardly of the boat hull, said housing having an upper end portion and a lower end portion disposed below the water line of the boat and extending generally vertically between its said end portions, a propeller on said lower end portion of said housing, means comprising a pivot element mounting said housing on said boat for swinging movement thereof with respect to said boat hull, a lubricating oil sump in said lower end portion of said housing, propeller driving means connected to said propeller at the lower end portion of said housing and extending interiorly of said housing to said upper end portion thereof, flexible drive connection means having one end drivingly connected interiorly of said upper end portion of said housing to said propeller driving means and extending outwardly of said housing and having another end connected to said engine shaft spacedly from said housing, an oil-tight flexible chamber encasing said exible drive connection means and having one end sealed around said engine shaft and having an opposite end sealed to said upper end portion of said outboard housing, oil pump means in said housing operatively connected with said one end of said iiexible driving connection means for pumping lubricating oil from said sump into said exible chamber for lubricating said ilexible drive connection means therein, and conduit means for conducting return oil from the interior of said exible chamber into said sump, said lower end portion of said housing providing heat exchange between the oil therein and the water outside thereof.

28. In a through-transom drive, in combination with a boat hull having a transom and an inboard motor, a mounting member iixedly associated with said hull, a yoke having its arms pivotally mounted on said member for fore and aft swinging movement relative to the hull, a vertically disposed outboard power leg carrying a propeller at its lower end, means pivotally mounting said power leg on said yoke for lateral steering movement relative to said hull, said steering pivot for the power leg being located between the power leg proper and the transom, and drive means for transferring power from said inboard motor through said transom to said propeller via the power leg, said drive means including universal joint means located between the transom and the power leg and extending between said arms of the yoke.

29. In a through-transom drive, in combination with a boat hull having a transom and an inboard motor, a mounting member fixedly associated with said hull, a yoke having its arms pivotally mounted on said member for fore and aft swinging, said yoke having a depending center leg directed oppositely from its said arms, a king pin carried by said center leg of the yoke, an outboard power leg carrying a propeller at its lower end and pivotally mounted on exposed top and bottom ends of said king pin for lateral swinging movement relative to said hull, a double universal joint having its working center between said yoke arms and closely adjacent the axial line of said king pin, said joint being operatively associated with said propeller by a drive through said power leg and with said motor by a drive through said mounting member and transom.

30. In a through-transom drive, in combination with a boat hull having a transom and an inboard motor, a mounting member fixedly associated with said hull, a swinging member pivotally -mounted on said mounting member at spaced pivot points on a generally horizontal transverse axis for fore and aft swinging movement relative to the hull, an outboard power leg carrying a forward and reverse transmission at its upper end and a propeller at its lower end and pivotally mounted on said swinging member for lateral steering movement relative to said hull about a steering axis substantially midway between said pivot points and spaced forwardly beyond the power leg proper, a double universal joint passing between said pivot points and having its working center closely adjacent said steering axis, said joint being operatively associated with said transmission by a horizontal drive shaft driving an input gear for the transmission and with the propeller by a transmission-driven Vertical drive shaft journaled in the power leg and with said motor by a drive through said mounting member and transom, and means operable from a position within thev hull for giving shift movements to the transmission.

31. In a through-transom drive for a boat having an inboard engine and a transom disposed transverse of the longitudinal center of the boat, a yoke having a central portion, upstanding spaced arms connected with said central portion and a depending center leg connected with said central portion, means pivotally connecting said yoke with said boat rearwardly of the transom and said means being disposed near the upper end of each of said arms, said yoke being adapted to swing up and down with respect to the transom about an axis transverse of the longitudinal center of the boat and parallel to the transom, a power leg carrying a propeller at its lower end and straddling said yoke leg top and bottom, said power leg housing a vertical drive shaft passing power downwardly to the propeller; and pivot means carried by said yoke leg and operatively associated with the straddling portions of said power leg for giving to the power leg steering action relative to the yoke about a vertical steering axis disposed lengthwise of said yoke leg and longitudinally offset to the front of the vertical drive shaft.

32. In a through-transom drive for a boat having an inboard engine, the improvement comprising a yoke having a center leg directed oppositely from its arms, a steering pivot pin extending the length of said yoke leg and projecting therebeyond at both of its ends, a power leg pivotally mounted on both projecting ends of said yoke leg about an axis to allow said power leg to be moved laterally to steer the boat, means pi-votally connecting said yoke with said boat about an axis to allow said power leg to kick-up, said power leg having an input shaft near one end directed between said yoke arms and having a propeller near the other end operatively interconnected to said input shaft, and a universal joint operatively connected to said input shaft, and a universal joint operatively connected to said input shaft and the output shaft of the inboard engine.

35. In a through-transom drive, in combination with a boat hull having a transom and an inboard engine, a mounting member fxedly associated with said hull, a yoke having arm portions adapted to be pivotally mounted at their upper end portions for fore and aft swinging movement relative to said 'boat hull, an upright center leg connected to said arm portions at their lower end portions, an outboard power leg carrying a propeller at its lower end, said power leg being pivotally mounted on said yoke about the longitudinal axis of said upright center leg, a first power transmitting shaft passing through said transom and said yoke, said rst power transmitting shaft having an input portion and an output portion, a further power transmitting shaft passing downwardly through said power leg and operatively connected with said output portion of said rst power transmitting shaft, exible joint means operatively connecting said input portion and said output portion of said first power transmitting shaft, said longitudinal axis of said upright center leg 24 being substantially coincident with the working center of said flexible joint means and the pivotal axis of said upper arm portions being substantially coincident with the working axis of said exible joint means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,007,486 10/1911 Proksa 11S-35 2,064,195 12/1936 Michelis 11S-35 2,114,633 4/1938 Hedges 115-35 2,755,766 7/1956 Wanzer 115-35 2,961,988 11/1960 Wood 11S-41 2,977,923 4/1961 Bergstedt 11S-34 FOREIGN PATENTS 340,367 1/1931 Great Britain.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. MAI OR, A. MITCHELL, Assistant Examiners.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 ,376 ,842 April 9, 1968 James R. Wynne ror appears in the above numbered pat- It is hereby certified that er rs Patent. should read as ent requiring correction and that the said Lette corrected below.

Column 1 line 34 "transsom" should read transom Column 5 line 71 "cover" should read over Column 6 line 2 "18" should read 118 line 42 "joint" should read 1- joints Column 7 line l0 "gear" should read gears Column 9 line 34 "154" should read 254 Column 16 line 2 "point" should read joint Column l8 line 5 "spaced rearwardly" should read spacedly rearward line 43 "surrounding" should read surroundingly line 70 "an deach" should read and each Column 2l line 32 "haivng" should read having Column 22 lines 74 and 75 cancel "nd a universal joint operatively connected to said input s aft Signed and sealed this 5th day of August l969.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR, WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

A'ttesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A BOAT HAVING A STERN TRANSOM, AN ENGINE FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON AND DISPOSED FORWARDLY OF SAID TRANSOM AND HAVING A DRIVE SHAFT EXTENDING AFTWRD THROUGH SAID TRANSOM, A UNIVERSAL JOINT ON SAID SHAFT DISPOSED AFT OF SAID TRANSOM, A SECOND UNIVERSAL JOINT DISPOSED AFT OF SAID FIRST JOINT, DRIVE MEANS CONNECTING BETWEEN SAID UNIVERSAL JOINTS, AN OUTBOARD HOUSING HAVING AN UPPER END PORTION DISPOSED AFT OF AND GENERALLY OPPOSITE SAID SECOND JOINT AND HAVING A LOWER END, A PROPELLER CARRIED ON SAID LOWER END, A TRANSMISSION IN SAID UPPER END, DRIVING MEANS CONNECTING SAID TRANSMISSION TO SAID PROPELLER, A CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID SECOND JOINT AND SAID TRANSMISSION, MOUNTING MEANS FOR SAID OUTBOARD HOUSING COMPRISING A BRACKET FIXED TO SAID TRANSOM AND A SUPPORT MEMBER DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID TRANSOM AND SAID HOUSING, A HINGE PIVOTALLY SUPPORTINGLY CONNECTING SAID MEMBER TO SAID BRACKET FOR SWINGING ON A FIRST AXIS, A SECOND HINGE PIVOTALLY SUPPORTINGLY CONNECTING SAID HOUSING TO SAID MEMBER FOR SWINGING OF SAID HOUSING ON A SECOD AXIS, SAID AXES BEING MUTUALLY PERPENDICULAR AND BEING LOCATED SO AS TO EXTEND THROUGH RESPECTIVE POINTS IN SUBSTANTIAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID DRIVE SHAFT AND BETWEEN SAID JOINTS. 